Families in need will be able to go on an adventure these holidays – trips to zoos, the movies, and fun parks; meals at restaurants – thanks to the charity Slabs for Heroes and local businesses. The community can help by donating fuel vouchers.

“Previously, we’ve done pretty presents for kids, but presents are supported fairly well through lots of the other charitable organisations,” Slabs for Heroes’ Roseanne Howes said. “We decided that we’d do something a little bit different to bring the family together and give them an outing together, so they can enjoy a day out, and maybe have a meal somewhere, as well.

“You know what it’s like with kids during the holidays: you’re generally pulling your hair out, and when money is tight, going somewhere isn’t normally on the list of priorities.”

At least 25 families will receive the Family Xmas Adventure Packs, as well as food, Ms Howes said.

Slabs for Heroes held two food drives at the Casey shopping centre and Coles Amaroo. Lots of items were donated, Ms Howes said: both staple items and Christmas items (puddings, custard, and the like). The charity packed them into boxes decorated by the children at Ngunnawal Primary School, then approached local businesses to see whether they could support the Adventure Packs.

More than 20 local businesses obliged. The National Zoo and Aquarium, Hoyts Belconnen, Canberra Aqua Park, Canberra Reptile Zoo, the National Dinosaur Museum, and Zone 3 all provided family passes and tickets.

Spice Affair Indian Cuisine and Noi Noi Vietnamese Restaurant (Casey); the George Harcourt Inn (Nicholls); Kynefin Café, 1882 Hall, Daughters at Hall; Southern Seoul Casey, Bombay Bites (Belconnen), Delhi to Canberra (Melba); and The District – Crace provided dining vouchers.

Canberra Centre, Revolution CD, and Idaisy’s Nails and Spa also provided vouchers.

Now, Ms Howes hopes the public will help with fuel vouchers (even $20) to get the families there. These can be bought from supermarkets like Coles or Woolworths, Ms Howes said. You can send Slabs for Heroes a private message through its Facebook page; Ms Howes will contact you.

Slabs for Heroes was set up during the 2019/20 bushfires.

“The community came together in a time of feeling helpless and hopeless, with the fires affecting so many of our neighbours,” Ms Howes said. At first, they provided electrolytes, water, and hygiene and health packs for RFS units. From there, it “exploded” into five months of providing supplies to all volunteers: the RFS, first responders, containment crews, welfare organisations, and affected members of the community.

Now, Slabs for Heroes gives a helping hand to smaller community organisations: it runs barbecues and raffles throughout the year, or appeals to the public. “We help those smaller organisations that are doing fantastic work, but don’t have the big corporate sponsorship like the larger ones do,” Ms Howes said.

For instance, it has aided Helping ACT, the Ngunnawal Street Pantry, the Rose Bush Pantry, the Percy Begg Pantry, and McLeod’s Angels; the Snowy Mountain region (Batlow, Tumbarumba, Tumut); and families in need.

“Quite often, we’ll get messages come through to Slabs from individual families just asking if we can help,” Ms Howes said. “Most of those are just people who don’t like to put their hand up very often and ask for help, but they know that there’s no judgment or anything through us.”

To request help, message Slabs for Heroes through Facebook. You will need to join the group page first. If Slabs can’t help, it can put you on to people who can.

“We’re very lucky that we have the ACT and surrounding areas – we can’t forget places like Goulburn, Yass, Queanbeyan, Murrumbateman: they always step up to help us when we need help,” Ms Howes said.

“When people come together in the way that we’ve seen so often, we actually can make a difference. We just want to thank everybody for that support, and also wish them a very Merry Christmas, and hope 2023 brings wonderful things for everybody.”